The Centre has also undertaken analysis of the indents/in- voices of book imports during 1975-76 by all the leading importers (about 35) who imported books worth Rs. 10 lakhs or more. After the analysis of the documents from about 16 importers, the Centre has prepared about 45,000 master cards giving coded bibliographical details for each of the titles imported, and sent the cards for computerization. About 20,000 more master cards covering a few more importers are expected to be prepared and sent for computerization during the remaining period of the current financial year.

Further, the Centre has been designated as the National agency to operate the International Standard Book Numbering System in India. The Centre is taking preliminary action to address the publishers in India to collect relevant data for operating the ISBN System.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Office

The Copyright Board, reconstituted with effect from 24th September, 1976, in pursuance of Section 11 of the Copyright Act, 1957 (14 of 1957), with Justice Hardayal Hardy, retired Chief Justice, Delhi High Court, as its Chairman, held four meeting during the year 1978, heard 38 cases and decided 15 cases.

During the year 1978, 3,622 works were registered in the Copyright Office for Copyright, out of which 3,147 were artistic

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and 475 literary works. In addition, changes in the Register of Copyrights were registered for 49 works.

India participated in the meetings of the (a) WIPO Budget Committee, (b) Committee of Governmental Experts on the Double Taxation of Copyright Royalties remitted from one country to another, (c) WIPO Sub-Committee to consider the problems relating to Cable Transmission of T.V. Programmes,and (d) Governing Bodies of WIPO and the Unions administered by WIPO. India also proposes to participate in the meetings of the (a) Executive Committee of the Berne Union, and (b) WIPO Permanent Committee for Development Co-operation related to Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, to be held during the remaining period of the year.

Regional Seminar on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights for Asian and Pacific States and Territories

At the invitation of Government of India, UNESCO and WIPO jointly organised a Regional Seminar on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights for Asian and Pacific States and Territories at New Delhi from December, 18-22, 1978. The Seminar was attended by 15 countries from the region. In addition a number of international non-governmental organisations like the International Federation of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms (IFPI), International Publishers Association (IPA), Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), etc. also attended the Seminar through observers Kenya, Libya and Nigeria also deputed observers to attend the Seminar. India was elected unanimously as the Chairman of the Seminar.

The Seminar was inaugurated by the Minister for Education, Social Welfare and Culture. Smt. Renuka Devi Barkataki, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Social Welfare and Culture, gave the concluding address at the Seminar.

One of the main recommendations made at the Seminar was that the Copyright holders in the developed countries should offer translation and reproduction rights of their works to developing countries on easy terms. The Seminar also recommended appropriate amendments in national legislations for the protection of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights through suitable penal and civil provisions. The Seminar further recommended the setting up of 'Good offices Committee' of authors and publishers to promote mutual understanding between them.

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National Convention of Authors

With a view to encouraging Indian authorship, this Ministry sanctioned a suitable grant to the Authors Guild of India to enable them to organise the Fifth National Convention of India Authors, at Trivandrum in December 1978.

Workshop for Afro-Asian Writers

This Ministry sanctioned a suitable grant to the India Inter- national Centre in order to enable them to organise a workshop for Afro-Asian Writers at the Centre in February 1979.